Rosanne Carlson is a Rodel Exemplary Teacher

The Porter Elementary teacher was honored by the Rodel Foundation of Arizona and will mentor high-potential student teachers.

Porter Elementary third-grade teacher Rosanne Carlson has
been named a 2015 Rodel Exemplary Teacher. Carlson has taught for 28 years, all
in Mesa Public Schools.

Exemplary Teachers are selected based on outstanding student
achievement in high-need schools, their mentoring ability and recommendation of
their principals and Rodel’s observation team.

“We are all so proud and excited for Rosanne being recognized
for the fantastic job she does at Porter,” says Paula Warren, principal at
Porter Elementary. “She is a team player and a role model for other teachers at
our school. She is always willing to help others by sharing ideas for
instruction.”

Carlson has a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s
in elementary education from Arizona State University. She’s served on the district
math committee and spelling adoption committee, and has presented classroom
management through Career Ladder. Currently she’s co-chairperson of Porter’s
Child Study Team and a member of the Site Improvement team.

“The most enjoyable aspects of teaching for me are
watching the students grow each year,” Carlson says. “You experience the joy
they feel when they accomplish a new task, large or small. It is amazing
to see their personalities develop. I love getting to know the families, and
many former families are now friends.”

Carlson thanks her family and current and former
colleagues for their support. “I have been blessed to have great
mentors throughout my career at Hawthorne Elementary, where I first started my
career, and here at Porter," she says. "Mesa Public Schools has provided me support
and opportunities to take professional development classes, and I have worked
with amazing teachers, Title 1 specialists and administrators.”

The Rodel Exemplary Teacher Initiative asks awardees to mentor student teachers with high potential. Student teachers will be in
Carlson’s classroom for the next two years.

“Rosanne will be an excellent mentor to aspiring teachers,”
Warren says. “One of our first-grade teachers at Porter did her student
teaching with Rosanne and raves about how much she learned under her direction.
Rosanne has a great compassion for teaching, and it shows!”